Months-Long Menstruation and Prayer

Question :

Respected scholars, as-salamu `alaykum.



My sister is experiencing menstrual bleeding for months now. Can she pray because it never stops?



Jazakum Allahu khayran.

Answer (Sheikh Ahmad Kutty):

Wa `alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear sister in Islam, thanks
for your question, which reflects your care to have a clear view of the
teachings of Islam. Allah commands Muslims to refer to the people of
knowledge to get themselves well-acquainted with the teachings of
Islam, as well as all aspects of life.

First of all, we would like to clarify that women experience different
patterns of menstruation. Women generally experience regular menses
that last for a certain period of time. Some women may experience
extended menstrual bleeding that exceeds the average period of time,
while others may be perplexed by untimely menses. Each of these
categories has its own ruling.

In his response to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Canada, stated,

Your sister is experiencing the condition of istihadah (chronic bleeding outside of normal menstrual period), not menses. As such, she ought to pray after the expiry of her menstrual period.

Let me explain: In the case of chronic bleeding, such as the one she is
experiencing, it is important for her to ask what pattern of menses she
had before the beginning of this condition. In other words, if she had
a pattern of menstruation that lasted for six or seven days, then she
should reckon the same number of days as belonging to the menses and
assume that what comes after belongs to istihadah, where she ought to resume Prayers after performing ghusl (ritual cleansing of the body).

There is, however, one important condition for her to observe: She should clean herself and make fresh wudu' (ablution) for each of the Prayers she performs. She should do so immediately prior to the Prayer she is intending to perform.

Source : Islamonline